Inland Marine Insurance

Inland marine for contractors commonly addresses mobile tools, contractors equipment, and materials or equipment while in transit or temporarily off-site — for example tools in a truck, scheduled machinery on a job site, or goods moving between yard and project. Depending on the form and schedule, that may include theft, vandalism, collision while in transit, and certain named perils away from your premises. Exact covered property, valuation (actual cash value vs. replacement cost), and whether unscheduled tools sit under a blanket limit follow the policy wording and declarations — not a brochure list. Ocean marine (over-water cargo) is often a related but separate discussion when freight leaves the country.

Commercial property and business personal property forms more often cover stock and equipment at a described location. Builder’s risk is built for the structure and materials while a project is being built. Inland marine fills gaps for property that moves — tools, equipment, and cargo that leave the yard or premises. Common inland marine exclusions or tight limits include wear and tear, mechanical breakdown, employee dishonesty (unless endorsed), mysterious disappearance on some forms, flood or earthquake unless added, and property already covered under a builders-risk or installation floater. Always map which form responds before you assume a job-site loss sits under inland marine instead of builders risk or CGL — or the reverse.

General contractors, specialty trades, installers, and service contractors who haul tools and equipment between job sites commonly need inland marine or a contractors equipment floater when commercial property at the shop is not enough. Firms with rented or leased equipment, high-value scheduled machines, or materials staged off-site often see this coverage called out next to a contractors insurance package. Requirements vary by contract, lease, and lender — brokerage review beats guessing from a blog post. This page is informational brokerage guidance only and is not legal advice about whether you “must” carry a particular limit.

Helpful items include: legal entity name and FEIN, equipment / tools schedule with values and serials where available, where equipment is stored overnight, radius of operations and how often items travel, owned vs. rented / leased gear, prior carrier and claims history, target limits and deductible, and any job-contract or lease wording that names inland marine or contractors equipment. For cargo or materials in transit, share typical load values and transport method. Accurate schedules and values speed underwriting; vague “tools of the trade” totals slow it down. We review submissions as brokerage guidance only and do not invent premiums on this page.

Call (916) 967-7715 or send details through our contact form. Tell us your equipment list and values, where gear sits overnight, prior claims if any, and any contract wording that names inland marine or contractors equipment. We can place this next to your construction insurance program — including builders risk when the structure itself needs coverage — so certificates stay aligned with how you actually work. For certificate or additional-insured wording, use our California contractors COI & additional-insured checklist alongside the quote. Lions & Coventry license #0G22084 — brokerage guidance only, not legal advice.